Dropping board scraper



Dec. 2, 1941.

L. HAWKINS DROPPING BOARD SGRAPER 7 Filed April 20, 1940 KM I Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE DROPPING BOARD SCRAPER Luty Hawkins, mum Vernon, 111. Application April 20, 1940, Serial No. 330,745

(01.15-236) I I2 and I4. The supporting members I6 and I1 8 Claims.

This invention relates to poultry coops and more particularly to an improved dropping board scraper for a poultry coop;

An object of this invention is to provide an improved scraper for a dropping board which is so constructed that it will scrape the board upon movement of the-scraper in either direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved scraper structure including a pair of scraper blades and means movable with the blades for holding the blades against the dropping board. I

v A further object of this invention is to provide a blade tensioning means for a dropping board scraper blade structure which is adapted to slidably engage the under side of thedropping board so as to thereby press the dropping board against the scraper blade structure, irrespective of any unevenness in the dropping-board.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within-the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scraper constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line- 22 ofFigure 1. r s

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the scraper, taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, numeral I designates generallya dropping board which is preferably constructed of metal and is disposed in a horizontal position. An oppositely shiftable scraper structure generally designated as I I slidably engages the dropping board I0 and is adapted to move lengthwise of the dropping board I!) in a selected direction so as to clean the upper surface of the board In. The scraper structure II comprises a pair of scraper blades I2 and I4 which are disposed in upwardly convergent relation.

site ends thereof with right angularly disposed flanges I3 and I5, respectively, which are fixed to the inner surface of a pair of vertically disposed blade supporting slide members I6 and IT. The members I6, I! constitute a carrier for the blades The blades I2 and I4 are provided at the oppoare constructed in substantially U-form with the bights I 8 and I 9, respectively. Extending at right angles and inwardly from the lower end of the bight I8 of the member I6 is a lower leg or flange 20, which engages beneath the board I I]. Extending at right angles and inwardly from the lower end of the bight I9 of the member I! is a lower leg or flange 2 I, which engages beneath the board ID on the opposite side thereof from the side which the leg engages beneath. The bight I8 of the member I6 is formed with a horizontally disposed inwardly extending upper leg or flange 22, which overlies the tops of the blades I2 and I4. The bight I9 'of the member I! is formed with a horizontally disposed inwardly extending upper leg or flange 25, which overlies .the tops ofthe blades I2 and I4. 'The blade I2 is provided with an upper flange 23 and the blade I4 with an upper flange 24. The ends of. the flanges 23,24.

engage the lower faces of the upper flanges 22, 25 of the members I6 and I1 respectively. The flanges I3 and I5 of the blades I2 and I4 are secured against the inner faces of the bights I8 and I9 respectively, by spot welding 25 or the like, whereby the blades I2 and I4 will be fixed at right angles to the members I6 and I1.

The blade member I2 at its lower edge portion is provided with an outwardly curved portion 26 and the lower terminal edge of the blade I2 is provided with a keen edge 21 adapted to slidably engage the upper surface of the board I0. The blade I4 is provided with an outwardly curved lower portion 28 and with a keen edge portion 29 engageable with the upper surface of the board I 0. The blade structure hereinbefore described is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the board I 0 and when the scraper blade structure is moved to the left as viewed in the drawing, the blade I2 is adapted to scrape the droppings from the board III. When the blade structure is moved to the right, the blade I4 is adapted to scrape the upper surface of the board III.

In order to provide a means whereby the two 7 blades I2 and I4 may be held in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the board Ifl so that in the event the board Ill is uneven, the blades I2 and I4 will nevertheless contact along their entire scraping edges with the board I 0, I have provided a blade tensioning means comprising a bar generally designated as 30 which is secured as by welding 3| to the lower flanges or legs 20 and 2 I. The blade tensioning member 30 is formed with an arched intermediate portion 32 having the convex surface thereof slidably engageable with the under surface of the board Ill and the tensioning member 30 is also formed with a pair of flat portions 33 and 34 extending from the longitudinal edges of the arched portion 3!.

In practice the peak of the arched portion 32 may be slightly above the horizontal plane defined by the keen edges 21 and 25 so that the board ill will be tensioned or slightly bent between the divergent lower edges of the two blades [2 and I4. Furthermore, the arching of the blade tensioning member 30 provides a smooth dropping board contacting surface which will permit sliding movement of the blades 12 and I4 while at the same time firmly holding the upper surface of the board l against the keen edges 21 and 29 of the blades l2 and Hi.

The blade structure H is adapted to-be .moved lengthwise of the board [0 by means of a draft device 35 which is secured to one end of eachof the slide members l6 and I1, and a second draft device 36 issecured to the opposite ends of these slide members [6 and ll. The draft device 35 is formed of a flexible member such as a wire strand which is secured at the opposite ends thereof in openings 31 and 33 formed in the bights l3 and I9, and the flexible member 35 is provided with an eye or loop 39 which is formed by twisting the central portion of the flexible member 35.

The draft member 36 is formed of a single strand of wire having the opposite ends thereof secured in openings 40 and 4| formed in the bights l8 and I9 at the ends thereof opposite from theopenings 3'! and 3,8, and a loop or eye 42 is formed in the central portion of the draft member 35.

In the useand operation of this scraper device, the dropping board Ill is inserted between the blades l2 and I4 and the blade tensioning member 30. When it is desired to scrape the upper surface of the board 19, the scraper structure H is moved lengthwise of the board Ill by pulling on a selected draft device, and in the movement of the scraper structure II, the blade tensioning member 30 will yieldably and firmly hold the blades l2 and M in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the board In while at the same time, correcting any irregularities in the contour of the board It) due to warping, bending orother circumstances.

With a scraper structure of this kind, the surface of the dropping board I0 will be thoroughly cleaned with each movement of the scraper structure ll lengthwise of the board. In addition, in view of the fact that the slide members I6 and l! extend considerably beyond the scraping edges of the two blades 52 and [4, these slide members 16 and I! will form ahopper with the blades 12 and i l so as to retain the loosened droppings in front of the blades and between the bights l8 and 19 of the slide members l6 and IT, respectively. In addition, the flanges 23 and 24 on the upper edges of the blades l2 and I4 together with the flanges 22 and 25 .of the slide members l6 and I l, coast with the vertical parts IB and I9 informing the hopper forwardly of the scraper blades I2 and i4.

What I claim is:

1. A dropping board scraper comprising a blade structure, a pair of vertically disposed oppositely extending simultaneously shiftable end members fixed to the ends of said blade structure and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom to thereby form a hopper on opposite sides of said blade structure, said members depending below said structure and the dropping board, and a blade tensioning member fixed to the lower portions of said end members and slidingly engaging the lower surface of said board.

2. A dropping board scraper comprising a blade structure for travelling on the upper face of the dropping board, a pair of upright carrier members for and fixed to the opposite ends of said blade structure and being opposite shif table in unison, a lower flange carried by said members arranged beneath said board, and a blade tensioning member fixed on the lower surfaces of said lower flanges and slidingly engaging the lower surface of the board.

3. A dropping board scraper comprising an oppositely shiftable V-shaped blade structure having the divergent edges thereof slidingly engaging the upper surface of the board, a vertically disposed oppositely shiftable carrier means for and fixed to the ends of said structure, said means depending below said structure and the dropping board, and a blade tensioning means fixed relative to the lower portion of said carrier means and slidingly engaging the under surface of the board to thereby holdsaid blade structure in contact with said board, said blade tensioning means formed of a transversely arched member disposed with the convex surface thereof slidingly engaging the under surface of the board.

4. A dropping board scraper comprising a V- shaped blade structure disposed in inverted position with the divergent portion thereof slidingly engaging the upper surface of the board, a pair of end members fixed to the opposite ends of said blade structure and engaging theopposite longi-. tudinal edges of said board, a lower flange carried by each of said end members, and an elongated blade tensioning member having its ends fixed to said flanges .and including a transversely arched portion slidably engaging the under surface .of said board.

5. A dropping board scraper comprising a pair of scraper blades disposed in downwardly divergent relation, end flanges carried by said blades, a pair of end members fixed to said end flanges and projecting atright angles from said blades to thereby form a movable hopper, an upper inwardly projecting flange carried by said end members, a lower inwardly projecting flange carried by said end members, and an elongated blade tensioning member fixed to said lower flanges and slidingly engaging the under surface of the board, said blade tensioning member including a transversely arched portion engageable with the under surface of the board to thereby hold said blades in sliding contact with the board.

6. In a combined dropping board scraper and hopper, an upstanding structure for disposing in overlapping relation with respect to and oppositely slidable relative to the dropping board, said structure including a pair of scraping blades disposed in downwardly divergent position over and for engaging said board, a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding blade carrying members fixed to the ends of and extending at right angles to the blades, said members having upper flanges overlapping the tops of the blades and lower flanges disposed below the lower face of the board, means fixed to said members and disposed on said lower flanges for maintaining the blades against the upper surface of the board, and oppositely extending traction means for said structure and secured to the ends of said members.

7. In a combined dropping board scraper and overlapping relation with respect. to and oppositely slidable relative to the dropping board, said structure including a pair of scraping blades disposed in downwardly divergent position over and for engaging said board, a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding blade carrying members fixed to the ends of and extending at right angles to the blades, said members having upper flanges overlapping the tops of the blades and lower flanges disposed below the lower face of the board, means fixed to said members and disposed on said lower flanges for maintaining the blades against the upper surface of the board, and oppositely extending traction means for said structure and secured to the ends of said members, each of said blades coacting with a portion of each of said members to form a horizontal hopper open at its outer end.

8. In a combined dropping board scraper and hopper, an upstanding structure for disposing in overlapping relation with respect to and oppositely slidable relative to the dropping board, said structure including a pair of scraping blades disposed in downwardly divergent position over and for engaging said board, a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding blade carrying members fixed to the ends of and extending at right angles to the blades, said members having upper flanges overlapping the tops of the blades and lower flanges disposed below the lower face of the board, means fixed to said members and disposed on said lower flanges for maintaining the blades against the upper surface of the board, and oppositely extending traction means for said structure and secured to the ends of said members, each of said blades coacting with a portion of each of said members to form a horizontal hopper open at its outer end, each of said blades including a flange at its upper edge coacting with the upper flanges of said members in retaining the material in said hoppers.

LUTY HAWKINS. 

